Drain Hydro Hot

[Bob Jae]

I went out to check out the coach for a Sunday departure.  Fired up the hydro hot and had coolant dripping from around the exhaust and down the air intake.  Took off the cover and under the pumps are flooded.  Talked to Roger Burke and he thinks it is the plastic drain assembly.  So I will replace that with brass.

Does anyone have any tricks on how to catch the coolant so it can be reused.  I guess I will try to connect something? to the stub on the drain after the valve.  I understand about 5 gallons will be coming out.  Thanks

[Edward Buker]

Bob,

It is hard to keep it all clean. If you reuse it you may want to pour it through an automotive paint filter. These pumps are expensive and you would not want any grit flowing in the system. When I drained and worked on mine it was an opportunity to change the coolant so I did. Yours may be just too new but something to think about....

Later Ed

[Larry Fisk]

I had that replaced on mine and the person doing the draining hooked a hose with a quarter turn valve onto the plastic drain valve. I'm not sure what the total amount was but I do remember several 5 gallon buckets were used. He also replaced a plastic float in the tank with a brass one. He stated the floats also have a history of going bad. Ours was actually an aqua hot system. Good Luck!!

[neil omalley]

I also had to replace that drain valve and the tech was able to hook up some sort of hose.  Was advised NOT to try to reuse the coolant and it took about 18 gallons to refill. If you are doing this work yourself, be sure to refill with BOILER anti freeze not with the "normal" auto antifreeze coolant.

[Bob Jae]

Thanks Neil I have been adding Camco coolant for a while, I am thinking the old radiator cap was not building much pressure as I changed that today also and it is leaking pretty bad now so am hoping it is the drain

[Orman Claxton]

Bob
There is 2 kinds of Camco Brand coolant, Be careful, BOILER type -100 degree    ONLY

[Bob Jae]

Thats what I have Orman Thanks for the heads up.

[Bob Jae]

So I drained the coolant by hooking up some 5/8 tubing and catching it in 1 gal water jugs. I got about 4 gallons and put about 5 gallons back in.  I removed the old plastic drain after I removed the burner to make room to work.  I used pipe dope and installed the new brass drain.  Filled the boiler and fired it up.  And it still leaks I have checked everywhere I can see.  I am now in the process of calling the shops to see who can work on it.  All the fittings look dry so I am afraid it is something major.  I have an extended warranty so will put it to the test for the first time.  At least the problem plastic drain has been replaced.

[Steve Huber]

Bob,
Some places that can have leaks that are tough to find:

Look/feel very closely around the pressure cap. It can leak there but the antifreeze runs down the inside of the case. You might be able to feel wet insulation at the rear of the unit.

Pull the back off the unit and be sure you don't have any leaks around the proportioning valve or any other of the copper fittings.

Steve

[Roy Warren Co-Admin]

Bob,
Our Hydro Hot was only two years old when we had a reservoir which would no longer hold fluid.  We couldn't figure out what was wrong and noted the tank did not leak.  There were also no leaks in the unit or around the unit.  I took it into a RV repair shop and they pulled the unit from the coach and found out there were leaks in the pipes inside the sealed unit.  They called Hydro Hot and were told the whole unit had to be replaced.  Apparently the tubing inside the unit was leaking and we were drinking and using the water with the boiler anti-freeze in it.  Hopefully this is not your problem.
Roy

[Bob Jae]

Thanks Roy no ours is Running out dripping now even when cool.  So I think it is near the bottom of the boiler or at least part way down.  All the shops are booked till the end of September but I am taking it and leaving it at the dealer on Monday.  They will work it in.  I think we will do most of the traveling we had planned just now in the car.  We can be home in a day or two if they fix it and resume the trip in the coach.

[Orman Claxton]

Possible internal crack,
Pull the burner, check for internal leak.
Sorry

[Bob Jae]

I did watch the exhaust and it is clean to black or white smoke.  I will post what it turns out to be

[Bob Jae]

Here is a picture of what leaked out in about an hour

[Bob Jae]

Orman once I get the hydro hot repaired how do I verify that the coolant is mixed properly to protect the boiler this winter?